King's Kloset on Harrison Makes Shopping for Growing Kids Easy

Genetta Jackson, owner of a new children's clothing boutique on Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District, knows a thing or two about how fast young kids outgrown their clothes—it's the reason she's opened her business.

opened in early November and works as a consignment shop and boutique of children's clothes.

Jackson started her business online, but decided that she was too much of a people person to spend all her time behind a computer screen. She discovered for herself how fast kids outgrow their clothes after having her first child, King, in 2010.

"I started buying him all this high end stuff, but then it was like, what do you do with it?" She questioned.

King grew out of his Gucci shoes and baby Nikes before they got much use, so, she began selling his lightly used wardrobe online—particularly finding a market on Instagram. 

"I'd put up photos and people would [email] me to say, 'I want that,' and I'd send it out," Jackson said.

When Jackson was laid off from her job at a telecommunication company in August, she found herself relieved, and decided to pursue a lifelong dream of opening her own retail space, she said.

"My entire family is made up of entrepreneurs," Jackson said with a bright laugh. “It’s always been in my mind and it seemed like a very good thing to do."

King's Kloset features a mix of boys and girls clothes with an eye towards the trendy. Lightly used clothes are brought in by other parents, or found by Jackson, and are put up in the shop. Customers can even put their kid's clothes on consignment and get a split of the profit when it sells.

According to Jackson, she tried to keep the clothes between the 0-16 sizes—so the store is really for babies to older kids. Though, Jackson said, one day she'd like to think about expanding into the teenage market.

King's Kloset also focuses on name brands, but promises to have a little something for everyone. Generally prices range from $10-30, but some items (like those Gucci shoes) go for more. The store also has a dollar bin for some items, and also sells hand-me-down brands like Old Navy.

If you're looking to dress your kid in style, but also save a little money, King's Kloset is a good place to check out.

You can even sell it back!

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